“My plainness of speech makes them hate me, and what is their hatred but a proof that I am speaking the truth.” -Socrates, The Apology ———— My testimony before the County Council on the Improving Adolescent Health and Well-Being Grant issued to #MCPS: “With regards to the “Improving Adolescent Health and Well-Being Grant,” I would like to ask a few questions. Yes, it is important that we care for our children’s mental health considering the rise of depression, substance abuse, and suicidality. However, lost in the details of each stage of this grant is the extent of parental involvement.  First, with regards to the collection and use of surveillance data that this funding supports: How is MCPS collecting this data from our children? Will parents be made aware that MCPS will be collecting this data? Will parents have access to the questions being asked on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey  beforehand? Will parents have the opportunity to opt their children out of participating in the survey? Considering that the grant will create a referral system to link students to sexual, behavioral, and mental health services and it is targeting children under the age of 18, will parents be alerted when those referrals take place? Will parents know the full scope and details of the sexual, behavioral, and mental health services being offered to their children? Will parents have the opportunity to opt their children out of receiving referrals and treatment, such as STI screening? A public school’s primary mission is to focus on achieving academic excellence for all of their students. This program intends to use time allotted for learning to conduct these surveys and deliver these services. Considering that these services are usually provided by parents and their family’s doctors, how is MCPS justifying taking away from math, history, science, and literature to implement this program when our reading and math scores are so low and we are graduating illiterate and innumerate students?  I want to end by saying that if we are truly invested in the mental health of our children and of our county’s citizens that it is time to end the divisive and hateful rhetoric endorsed by county leadership such as Councilmember Kristin Mink in her recent post on X. Labeling a once-Democrat-recently-turned Independent candidate for the Board of Education such as myself a “far-right, radical extremist”in what is supposed to be a non-partisan race without providing any evidence from my policy proposals or platform exposed the toxic nature of our county’s politics.  We are to serve as role models for our children and for our community. Her tit-for-tat exchange with Students For Brenda M. Diaz, where she cited support for my candidacy from the Republican Party as proof of my “far-right” agenda, shows that Councilmember Mink is unable to reach across the aisle to build coalitions for the sake of improving education. It also showed an inability to discern how to properly engage with our children. Unfortunately, her actions are not surprising as she also called Muslim parents and students “white supremacists” for standing up for their religious freedom, as it is enshrined in our Constitution. Let us move forward together, embracing all members of our community– Republican, Democrat, and Independent– out of love for our children, in order to rebuild the foundation of academic excellence in MCPS. Thank you.” #DiazForBOE

RT @BethesdaRow: ✅Montgomery County hasn't attracted a single major corporate HQ in over 25 years ✅166 vacant police officer positions ✅Slo…

@SmPotatoes The economic outlook is in the trash with the bags they’ve just banned

@DOGE This is 9th grade US History in #MCPS

My girls and I singing this song at the top of our lungs on our way to and from the Shenandoah, driving through scenic country roads, makes my heart swell. Instant tears of joy whenever I hear John Denver’s, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” What song moves your heart?

@Djp1Me @SmPotatoes @saustin_moco Who paid for her attendance at this conference?

@SS_Croaker @CoffeewClassics That’s cute 😊

@JamesAFurey We are to evaluate our thoughts & emotions, using discernment with the virtues as our filter, in order to determine if the thought is even worthy of consideration or if the feeling is worthy of acknowledgment. This requires intense study. Read to fine tune discernment!

I’d recommend all #MCPS Board of Education members to get their hands on these books, especially ones who haven’t ever been a classroom teacher. As you visit the schools, ask yourself if you see best practices in place. The authors listed will help in that process. @mocoboe

@ConceptualJames Now there needs to be a push to stop the dissemination of propaganda at home as authorized under the Smith–Mundt Modernization Act of 2012.

RT @JaminGrey: @Broken_Imp @p_feif80 @bridgietherease American Chestnut trees having been getting hit hard for a century now by a parasitic…

@moonsteaders @TaraAnnThieke Magical 🌌🌌🌌

@amjuster That’s gorgeous! I also love manatees, so huge plus! 💙💙💙

RT @FitzgeraldMofor: Marylanders are suffering from increased energy costs due to the actions of the Democrat Super Majority in the General…

@kagan_theo @Bill4AllMoCo @M4LMoCo @MCPS @mocoboe @ThomasTaylorEdD There are other options for students who choose to engage in violence. Learning that actions have consequences at a young age is the proper preparation for adulthood. We would do them a disservice if we were to stay silent and acquiescent.

Buy children’s books with illustrations that communicate warmth, vitality, strength, and beauty. Books communicate the virtues we would like our children to inherit from us and our world. Enrich their life through the arts in the literature they encounter.

@FoundationDads Children are just the most beautiful, most precious beings on Earth. We should treasure them by providing all that they need to be successful adults.

@DoBetterforKids @JeremiahRabitor @ChrisVanHollen The same way any other responsible parent does— in between being a dedicated mom to my children ✨

Planning stages 🌱💚🌱